Seattle wants a lot more LGBTQ weddings

Deb Needham, left, and Nancy Monahan, walk down the stairs of Seattle City Hall after getting married on Dec. 9, 2012, the first day same-sex couples in Washington could legally be married. (Photo: Joshua Trujillo)

Seattle has long been a popular place to visit, but the city is now lobbying for a new kind of tourist: LGBTQ* wedding couples.

A new national ad campaign is billing Seattle as a romantic city for same-sex destination weddings, with a chance to win a wedding package and Seattle Mayor Ed Murray as the officiant.

“If you can’t get married in your city, we’ll make sure you can get married in ours,” says the new campaign, called “Marry Me in Seattle.” Created by tourist office Visit Seattle, the campaign will appear in many same-sex media outlets.

The campaign is giving away four Seattle wedding packages to out-of-state, same-sex couples. Each package includes transportation from Alaska Airlines, a ceremony at Canlis restaurant, champagne from Chateau Ste. Michelle, beer from Hilliard’s Brewery, and dessert from Trophy Cupcakes.

The weddings will be scheduled between September and December. Murray, Seattle’s first openly gay mayor, is scheduled to officiate only at the first wedding, on Sept. 3.

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Washington since 2012. For more info on the campaign and sweepstakes, go here.

Seattle was recently named “most friendly LGBT” city in America by NerdWallet. What makes Seattle so friendly? The answer’s in the slideshow:

Photo: isifa / Getty Images

Image 1of/20

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 20

<p>Just in time for pride month, consumer financial site Nerdwallet came out with its list of <a href="http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/cities/most-lgbt-friendly-cities/">most LGBT-friendly cities in America</a>. Here's the top 20, starting with <b>Sacramento</b> at No. 20.</p>
<p>California's capital city has a 1.3 percent rate of same-sex households.</p> less

<p>Just in time for pride month, consumer financial site Nerdwallet came out with its list of <a href="http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/cities/most-lgbt-friendly-cities/">most LGBT-friendly cities in ... more

Photo: isifa / Getty Images

Image 2 of 20

<b>19. Phoenix</b>

<b>19. Phoenix</b>

Photo: franckreporter / Getty Images

Image 3 of 20

<p><strong>18. Los Angeles: </strong>This city fell in Nerdwallet's LGBT-friendly list, which ranked it at No. 6 last year. West Hollywood was hailed as L.A.'s "premiere gay neighborhood."</p>
<p>But only 0.8 percent of L.A.'s households have a same-sex couple.</p> less

<p><strong>18. Los Angeles: </strong>This city fell in Nerdwallet's LGBT-friendly list, which ranked it at No. 6 last year. West Hollywood was hailed as L.A.'s "premiere gay neighborhood."</p>
<p>But only ... more

Photo: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images

Image 4 of 20

<p><strong>17. Dallas</strong>, where 1.2 percent of households have a same-sex couple.</p>

<p><strong>17. Dallas</strong>, where 1.2 percent of households have a same-sex couple.</p>

Photo: Tom Pennington / Getty Images

Image 5 of 20

<b>16. San Diego</b>

<b>16. San Diego</b>

Photo: Sandy Huffaker / Getty Images

Image 6 of 20

<p><strong>15. New York:</strong> Known for its vibrant gay neighborhoods, this city also fell in the ranking, dropping from No. 10 last year to 15th this year.</p>
<p>New York state has allowed same-sex marriage since 2011, and 0.9 percent of New York City's households have a same-sex couple, according to Nerdwallet.</p> less

<p><strong>15. New York:</strong> Known for its vibrant gay neighborhoods, this city also fell in the ranking, dropping from No. 10 last year to 15th this year.</p>
<p>New York state has allowed same-sex ... more

<p><strong>6. Minneapolis:</strong> This city has the third highest share - 2.4 percent - of same-sex households among major U.S. cities.</p>
<p>The state of Minnesota legalized gay marriage in May 2013.</p> less

<p><strong>6. Minneapolis:</strong> This city has the third highest share - 2.4 percent - of same-sex households among major U.S. cities.</p>
<p>The state of Minnesota legalized gay marriage in May ... more

<b>4. Oakland, CA:</b> This Bay Area city is home to a diverse population, including a sizeable LGBT community, says NerdWallet.

<b>4. Oakland, CA:</b> This Bay Area city is home to a diverse population, including a sizeable LGBT community, says NerdWallet.

Photo: Travel Images/UIG / Getty Images/Universal Images Group

Image 18 of 20

<b>3. Atlanta:</b> The only southeast city in NerdWallet's top 10 LGBT-friendly cities. It has a high "equality score" and low rate of LGBT hate crimes.

<b>3. Atlanta:</b> The only southeast city in NerdWallet's top 10 LGBT-friendly cities. It has a high "equality score" and low rate of LGBT hate crimes.

Photo: Inti St. Clair / Getty Images

Image 19 of 20

<p><strong>2. San Francisco:</strong> Known as one of the country's gay-friendliest cities, SF boasts a big LGBT population and overall progressiveness.</p>
<p>It has a 2.5 percent rate of same-sex couples among households, the second highest rate in the country.</p> less

<p><strong>2. San Francisco:</strong> Known as one of the country's gay-friendliest cities, SF boasts a big LGBT population and overall progressiveness.</p>
<p>It has a 2.5 percent rate of same-sex couples ... more

Photo: Michael Short / Special to the Chronicle

Image 20 of 20

<p><strong>1. Seattle:</strong> Seattle is home to the highest rate of same-sex households - 2.6 percent - among major cities in the United States. Gay marriage has been legal in Washington since December of 2012.</p>
<p>Seattle also has an "equality index" of 100, and a relatively low rate of LGBT hate crimes - 0.95 incidents per 100,000 residents. Bring on the pride!</p> less

<p><strong>1. Seattle:</strong> Seattle is home to the highest rate of same-sex households - 2.6 percent - among major cities in the United States. Gay marriage has been legal in Washington since December of ... more